Apparatus for leaching ores and the subsequent separation of the liquids from the solids.



I No. 875,425. I V V H PATENTED DEG. 31/1907.

J. H. GILLES APPARATUS FDR LEAGHING ORES AND THE UBSBQUENT SEPARATION OFTHE LIQUIDS FROM THE SULIDS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20,1906.

. 3 SHEETS-"SHEET l.

No. 875,425. PATENTED M10381, 190v.

J. H. GILLIES.

APPARATUSPOR LEAGHING ORES AND THE SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE LIQUIDSFROM THE SOLIDS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20.1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 875,426. PATEN'I'ED DEC. 31, 1907.

J. H. GILLIES.

APPARATUS FOR LBACHING' ORES AND THE SUBSBQUENT SEPARATION OF THELIQUIDS FROM THE SOLIDS.

APPLIGATION BIL-ED AUG. 29, 1995,

,3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

JAMES HYNDES GILLIES, OFAUBURX, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR LEACHING ORES AND TIDE SUBSEQUENI SEPARATION OF THELIQUIDS FROM THE SOLIDS.

?atented Dec. 31, I907.

.or Metallurgical Products and the Subsequent Separation of the Liquidsfrom the Solids, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus or plant for the leachinor other treatment of ores or metallurgica products with solutions andalso to the subsequent separation-of the liquids from the solids.

My invention refers more particularly to an apparatus for leaching zincores with sulfuric acid and the subsequent separation of the slimes andsolids from the solutions of zinc sulfate, but though hereindescribed'as applicable to this particular process, it will be well understoodthat it is equally applicable to other. rocesses in which ores ormetallurgical pro nets are leached with liquids or solutions.

Leaching operations are at resentforthe most part effected in vats bydbwnward percolation, the solutions being drawn off through a falsebottom. Diliiculty is often experienced however and particularly whenwith acid solutions by the tendency leaching of the s lines and othersolids to agglomerate and cake in the bottom of the vat due for the mostpart to the formation of gelatinous silica and the. rehydration of thesulfates formed in the roasting,

The object. of this invention is to provide an apparatus or plant inwhich a continuous stream of ore or metallurgical products is broughtinto contact with an o posing stream of leaching liquid effecting t 1esolution of the soluble mineral particles-and soluble salts continuouslywithout any settlement, the liquids and solids being subse quentlylikewise separated while continuously flowing. I accomplish this objectby providing an apparatus of novel construction and an arrangement ofparts for the leaching of Ores and the separation of the liquids andsolids forming a complete plant as hereinafter described,

My improved apparatus consists of a double walled tessel forming anannular space surrounding an internal space, the liquors being caused toflow upwards in this annular space, and the ore and metallurgical products downwards therein, the solutions together with the finer particlesand slimes'carried by the current being withdrawn at the to of the saidannular space into theinterna l space, while the gangue and insolublecoarser solids are withdrawn from bottom of thesaid annular space. Ialso provide a number of separator vessels arranged in series, theliquors from one overflowing into the other, together with means wherebythe solids-in their passage between each series are subjected to awashing operation by solutions obtained from the lower series ofseparator vessels to bring the solutions delivered from the upper seriesof separator vessels up to a higher state of concentration, and also atthe same time maintain the same bulk of liquid in circulation.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to de-, scribe the same by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional elevation, (line l1,Fig. 2) and Fig. 2 is a plan in section (line 22 Fig. 1) of my improvedleach ing apparatus. Fig. 3 is an elevationpartly in section ofoneseries or group of separator vessels. Fig. 4 is an elevation of thecomplete plant. l

My improved apparatus consists of a dou-' ble walled vessel preferablycylindrical in shape formed with an outer wall A and an inner wall B.These two-walls A and B.

form together an annular s ace C surrounding an internal space D. T ewalls A and B are also stepped in form, that is to say, they are zigz'ain vertical section. At the bottom, these wadls A and Bare continued inthe form of inverted cones Aand B respectively, as shown in F i 1. Theouter wall A is provided with a isch'arge'pipe A having a controllingcook or plug of usual construction for the discharge of the coarsersolids and insoluble particles and gangue from the annular space C. The'inner wa'll Bis provided with a discharge pi e B lead-" ing out throughthe outer wa A. or the discharge of the solutionsof soluble salts and Aninlet pipe E for the leaching liquor is provided at the bottom of thevessel passing in through the outer wall A preferably surrounding thedischarge pipe and delivering with acids of acid-resisting material suchas regulus metal or hardened lead. The stepped portion of the vesselaround the annular space C is provided with a steam jacket Ffor themaintenance of a higher temperature when it is required. Inconstructthis vessel of'regulus material or the like -when used forleaching with .acid solutions, the outer wall A is cast in hemisphericalsections with flangesa clamped between the flan esf of the sheeting F ofthe steam jacket. At t e top of the vessel is provided a hopper- Gpreferably adapted to rotate and having, feed arms G delivering thematerialinto the annular space C. A hood H is also provided having anupwardly projecting. pipe Hf (forming the shaft for the hopper G)whereby the fumes from the leaching operation may be conducted away.

In operation, the ore or metallurgical prod- -ucts are fed in from thehopper into the an: nular space G into the bottom of which at the sametime the leaching liquors are introduced by means of'the-pipe E. Thedescending ore meets the upwardly flowing current of leaching liquorsin-the annular space U and falling downward fromstepfto step being inrolonged contact the soluble salts are disso ved, andthe solutionsthereof rise and flow over the up er edge of the inner v wall B into theinterna space D together with any slimes or fine particles carriedthere= with. The solutions with these slimes and fine particles arewithdrawn from theinternal space D by means-of the pipe-B andsubsequently treated in separator vessels as hereinafter described forthe separation of the liquids from the solids. The gangue and coarserparticles passing downwards in the annular space C are withdrawn fromthe bot tomthereof by means of the'pipe A into the sump A. V

It will be seen that the above-described vessel is usablefor separationonly without leaching. In this case the orewith or without admixture ofseparating medium-is fed in to the annular space C and meets an 9pposing upwardly moving current. ticles carried u wardly .by this currentare delivered over tlie 'e e of the wall B into the internal space'D anfrom there withdrawn while the other particles not affected by thecurrent sink to the bottom of the annular space t. and are withdrawn bythe opening A Thesolutions and slimes andhner prod- M of the lastvessel.

The par ucts delivered from the internal space D of the vessel A bymeans-of the pipe B are dis. charged into the highest. or uppermost ofthe settling or separator vessels. These separator vessels arearrangedfln groups or series one above the otherv at {different levelsin such "way that the products of oneseries may fiow directly into theother. One. series or group is shown in Fig. 3 while a plant of fourseries or groups 'isshown in Fig. 4.. ,I will first describe oneseriesor group as shown in Fig. 3. These separator vessels may be eitherofinverted pyramidal or conical shape similar to ordinary settling boxesor spit'zkast-en, or their upper por tions maybe rectangular or'cylindrical surmounting an invertedipy-rainid or cone.

These vessels J may be provided with a vertical baflie plate upon theside upon which the liquors enter or are constructed prefer ably asshown with a central open cylinder K into which the solutions'andfslimesare delivered.v Each vessel J is also provided with a discharge openingL at thebottom having a control cock L and an annular lip or launder Mat the top. From this lip-or launder M is achute N discharging into the3 cylinder K of the vessel nextbe'low'it in se ries. Between each seriesor group of separatorvessels ,J is a launder P adapted to re-,

ceive the solids in the form of sludge, as delivered from the bottom ofthat particular series or group of separator vessels as dis-' chargedfrom the openings L, while at the. head of each launder P is asump ortank S for providing. wash water orweak solution as hereinafterdescribed. At the lower'endjl of each series or group of separatorvessels. is asump or tank It adapted to receive the solutionsoverflowing from the lip or launder This form of separator vessel J Iaffords a maximum amount of set-. tling area, the solutions and slimesto beseparated being delivered into the cylinder K with the leastpossible agitation and the around-the whole of the .top edge ,into thelip or launder M1 g Referring now to Fig. 4,.1 will describe a plant ofseparator vessels arranged accordmg to my invention on which there arefour series or It will however be well understoo sumps or tanks may beextended sufficiently to receive then'liolc otthe discharge of the oneseries or group.

that any number of seriesor, groups may be arranged as is found neces-,each, series or: i

In Fig -t four series or groups are shown, the \tesselsin the first or"upper group being designated J in the sec- 1 0nd J in the thirdJ and inthe fourth-J,

110 overflow of the clear solutions isefiected overflow fromone to theother an and similarly thelaunders for the discharge of the sludgearedesignated P P P and P respectively, the sumps or tanks for the receiptof the clear solutions R, R R and R respectively, and the washing tanksS S and S respectively, there being no washing tank for the last orlowermost launder P. A solution tank T is provided at a suitable leveland connected with the pipe E so that suflicient head of solution maybeobtained to allow of a flow through theleaching vessel. A tank Q forwash water is provided shown herein at the bottom of the plant, but inpractice arranged in any convenient position, or the letter Q may simplying the solutions, such as air lifts w w and w of any known constructionconnected to pipes W containing compressed air. The wash water tank iisshown with a pipe g having an air lift weonnected toxthe pipe Wcontaining compressed air.

The solutions and shmes comiri from the leaching vessel A flow by meansthe pipe B into the first vessel of the firstQseries or group ofseparators J and the S011 s settle down at the bottom thereof while thliiiqluqlrs a 3* into the sum R- at the end of the \se1 ies. The sludgedelivered from the vessels J flows down the launder P the next series ofseparators J I Washing operation in the launder P b3 Weak solution fromthe sump S- obtaine hereinafter described. This wash solution may beintroduced into the bottom of the vessels J to assist in the delivery ofthe sludge. The sludge from each series flovvs down the launders P P, Pand P, where i is washed with weak solutions or water from bein thewashing sumps S, S and S and then intothe separator vessels of the nextseries,- clear solutions being collected in sumps R R R and R. Theseoperations are repeated as many times as there are se- II'IGS or groupsin the plant.

In order to allow of the Weaker solutions sent back for rewashing untilsufii cienty rich in soluble salts, the series or groups-of separatorsand sumps are arranged and connected in a special manner as hereinafterdescribed, the object being to maintain the same bulk of liquids byreplenishing to the'efi'rteknt of the concentrated or saturatedsolutions. The receiving sum R of the separators J of series or pump 0.1 contains the stronger concentrated solution of soluble salts, in someThe reand is subjected\to a the tanks or of the liquids from the solids,a doub vessel forming anannular space surrounding amount withdrawn inceiving sumps R and R of the lower series or grou s of separators Nos. 3and 4 contain gradua' ly weaker'solutions and are returned back again tothe washing sumps in order to bring them to a higher point of concen-.tration. This is effected by returning the stronger solutions to thewashing sumps in the higher series or groups (where the sludge would beobviously richer in soluble salts) while the Weaker solutions arereturned to the lower series or groups (where the sludge would beobviously poorer in soluble salts). In carrying out this principle thereceiving sum'pyR of series or group No. 1 contains the concentrated-orsaturated solution sought, or if not sufliciently rich in salts isconnected by means of the pipe 1) to the second receiv ing sump R Theliquor in the receiving sump'R is returned by means of the pipe r to thestorage tank Tfor the leaching opera tion described in the first place.The receiving sump R is connected by means of the pipe r to thewashingsump S The receiving sump R is connected'by means .of'

the pipe 1' to the washing sump-S. The Washing sump S is replenishedwith wash Water by means of the pi e g from the tank Q while no washingwon (:1 be efiected upon the sludge in the launder P of the lowermostseries or group of separators. The wash water added to the washing sumpS is ar ranged to be in suchquantity as to replenish the amount ofliquid withdrawn in the receiving sump R and thus the bulk of solutionsis maintained and'the cycle of opera.- tions continued.

I claim y 1. In an apparatus for the leaching of ores or metallurgicalproducts and the se aration of the liquids from the solids, a doubl eWalled vessel forming an annular space surrounding, an internal spaceandhaving se arate means of discharge from the bottom 0 the said anrnular sace and from the bottom of the said interna space, and means for theinflow of solution into the bottom of the said annular space,substantially as. described.

.2. In an apparatus for the leaching of ores or metallurgical productsand the se aration i2 walled an internal space havlng means for feedingthe ore or metallurgical products into the top of the said annular spaceand from the bottom of the said internal space, and an inlet forsolution in the bottom of the said annular space.

3. In an apparatus for the leaching of ores or metallurgical productsand the separation of the liquids from the solids, the combination witha double walled vessel forming an annular space surrounding an internalspace, the said walls being step ed or zigzag in vertical section andshape as inverted cones at the bottom, of a discharge pipe from the wallare bolted, substantially as described.

bottom of the said annular space and a discharge pipe from the bottom ofthe said internal space, and an inlet. ipe for solution leading into thebottom of tl ie annular space, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for the leaching of ores or metallurgical productsand the separation of the liquids from the solids, the combination witha double Walled vessel forming an annular space surrounding aninternalspace,

the said. walls being of corrosive-fluid-resistmg material, the outer.wall being constructed in sections having flanges, of a casingsurroundlng the said outer Wall having flanges between which the flangesof the said outer 5. In an apparatus for the leaching of ores ormetallurgical products, and the se aration of the liquids from thesolids, the com ination with a double walled vessel forming an annularspace surrounding an internal space, having means for the discharge fromthe bottom of the said annular space, and from the bottom of the saidinternal space, and an inlet pipe into the bottom of the annular space,of a steam jacket surrounding the outer wall of v of the liquids fromthe solids, the combination of an outer stepped wall (such as A), aninner step ed wal (such as B), a steam jacket (suc as F) forming anannular space (such as C) and an internal space (such as D) of a pipe(such as E) for the inflow of solution into the bottom of the saidannular space, and discharge B ).leading out from t e bottom of the saidannular space and the said internal space res ectively, all forming avessel substantia y as described, and as shown in the drawings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in, presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES HYNDES GILLIES.

Witnesses:

OLEM. A. HACK, PERCY HEDcEs.

ipes (such as A and

